"Tyrant" or "vanguard against colonialism"?

As events unfolded in Libya, the press review turned to Twitter. One rebel supporter expresses a sense of euphoria that those abroad can now go home, another says it will be hard to consolidate real freedom. And in the Arab-language press, one paper's tyrant is another's vanguard against western colonialism. Libya is the focus for this press review, Monday 22nd August, 2011.

Libyans are on the verge of a new era. Rebel supporters have tweeted in celebration. The Libya Youth Movement “Shabab Libya” says: “The date for the Liberation of Tripoli was chosen as it was the date when the Prophet Muhammad and the Muslims liberated Mecca peacefully”. That, in fact, is the 20th day of Ramadan, which this year was August the 20th, a Saturday and when Libya’s rebels first entered the capital. Another tweet, by “avinunu”, says the “people of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya will need to struggle as one to rid the region of imperial control and consolidate real freedom. A long road”. Another says “few things are as touching and inspiring as hearing someone say, all smiles, that our status as refugees has ended and we're going home”.

In the print media, the Saudi daily based in London, Asharq Al-Awsat, looks at the post-Gaddafi era and what it calls the end of a tyrant. It argues the Libyan leader’s fall will change the Arab-speaking world and re-shape the international community’s attitude towards dictatorships, including Yemen and Syria. It says events could stir world powers to beef up pressure on Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh and Syria's Bashar Al Assad.

An Australian at heart with Indian origins, Dheepthika has been at FRANCE 24 since 2012. She loves browsing through the papers with a special soft spot for anything Aussie and anything that takes us out of the mundane.

ALISON SARGENTJournalist, Press Reviewer

A piece of her heart lives in Seattle, but Alison has been in Paris since 2013. She loves explaining French word play, rounding up clever cartoons, and trying to reconcile opposing views.

FLORENCE VILLEMINOTJournalist

As a bilingual Franco-American, she enjoys explaining everything French to an Anglophone audience… as well as exploring ideas that will shape the future.